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WORLD NEWS Friday 5 OctOber 2018

Merkel, Netanyahu play down differences during Israel visit

By TIA GOLDENBERG heard from the prime min-
Associated Press ister that we also need to
JERUSALEM (AP) — The encourage the Palestinian
leaders of Israel and Ger- side that they come to the
many, countries that have negotiating table and I will
built a strong alliance since do this."
the horrors of the Holo- Germany has also been
caust, put on a display among the European
of unity in Jerusalem on countries calling on Israel
Thursday, even as the two to refrain from carrying
states continue to grapple out its plans to demolish a
with gaping disagreements West Bank hamlet that Is-
over Iran and the Palestin- rael says was illegally built.
ians. On Thursday, however, she
German Chancellor An- said the issue was "an Israeli
gela Merkel was in Israel decision" and strongly de-
for two days of joint gov- nied reports that she had
ernment consultations, the threatened to call off the
seventh such trip since Is- trip if the demolition went
rael and Germany estab- forward.
lished the tradition a de- Israel has offered to resettle
cade ago. the 180 Bedouin Palestin-
She and Israeli Prime Min- ian residents of the Khan
ister Benjamin Netanyahu al-Ahmar encampment
appeared together at a a few miles (kilometers)
press conference where away. But Palestinians and
they played down their dif- German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits the Hall of Names in the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum their European backers say
ferences. Netanyahu wel- in Jerusalem, Israel, Thursday Oct. 4, 2018. the demolition is aimed at
comed European efforts Associated Press displacing Palestinians in
to address Iranian "aggres- favor of settlement expan-
sion" in Europe, and Merkel bility. Netanyahu lauded Iran from obtaining nuclear blame for stalled Mideast sion and would deal a dev-
agreed to prod the Pal- President Donald Trump for arms, specifying that the peace talks on them. astating blow to hopes for
estinian leader over Israeli pulling out of the deal this agreement itself was in dis- But on Thursday the criti- Palestinian statehood.
claims that he is to blame year, which Merkel and pute. cism was restrained, with Germany is Israel's largest
for the standstill in peace other world leaders helped Merkel has also continued Merkel again advocating trading partner in Europe
talks and a worsening situa- negotiate. to champion the tradi- for the establishment of a and for the past few de-
tion in the Gaza Strip. Israel has also criticized Eu- tional approach to Middle Palestinian state but agree- cades has been perhaps its
"We agree on most things, rope for moving forward on East peacemaking, calling ing to speak to Palestinian staunchest supporter.
and we disagree on some- the Iran deal even as Iran for the establishment of a President Mahmoud Abbas Israel was established three
thing. So what?" Netanya- has been accused of terror Palestinian state and for — following Netanyahu's years after the end of
hu said. "We have a very plots in Europe. Israel to refrain from taking request — over charges World War II, and the Ger-
strong alliance." Merkel, whose rapport with unilateral steps, such as set- that he is stymieing any new man government has paid
Despite gingerly addressing Netanyahu has been cool tlement construction, that peace talks and plunging billions in reparations to Ho-
the gaps, the sides remain at times, maintains that Is- could undermine peace Gaza into greater crisis. locaust survivors and posi-
strongly divided over Eu- rael will be best served by prospects. "I have promised the prime tioned itself as a leader in
rope's support for the 2015 keeping the Iranian nucle- In contrast, Trump has minister that in the after- combatting anti-Semitism.
nuclear deal with Iran. ar deal intact, contradict- largely held off from criti- math of the German-Israeli Under Merkel, it has been
Netanyahu says the deal, ing Netanyahu's demand cizing Israeli settlement consultations, I will call the perhaps Israel's strongest
which curbed Iran's nucle- that it be scrapped and stiff activity in the West Bank, Palestinian President (Mah- European ally.
ar program, does not in- sanctions imposed instead. recognized Jerusalem as its moud Abbas). I will inform Merkel began the sec-
clude enough safeguards She earlier downplayed dif- capital and moved the U.S. him and also ask him some ond day of her trip with an
to prevent the Islamic Re- ferences on Iran, saying the Embassy there. He also has questions which also have emotional tour of the Yad
public from developing a sides were "absolutely in cut funding to the Palestin- to do with the situation in Vashem Holocaust memo-
nuclear weapons capa- agreement" on preventing ians and fully pinned the Gaza," she said. "I have rial and museum.q